An OK game gets better: hands-on with Gran Turismo 5‘s title update

Gran Turismo 5 has been updated to version 2. for?

When Gran Turismo 5 hit the shelves in late 2010, the latest installment of Polyphony Digital's seminal racing series didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations held by many fans. The game had flashes of greatness, but these were mixed with frustrations from the user interface and a feeling that the game was rushed and unpolished. Last month Sony pushed out a title update that fixes some of the game's flaws and also opens it up to DLC.

One significant update is the addition of in-car views for all of the included cars. Only 200 of GT5's virtual vehicles are highly detailed premium models with completely rendered interiors, with the other several hundred being lower-resolution models ported over from previous games. Unfortunately the update doesn't bring this level of detail to the entire lineup. Rather, the cockpit view is more of a dark matte that overlays on top of the screen, but at least gamers can now have consistency across their garages rather than having to switch views depending on which cars they're in.

Players also have more control over dynamic weather in online races as well as the course editor, and there are new 2011 NASCAR models, a new Nissan GTR racing car, a new photo location, and a number of UI fixes.

The DLC includes some new cars, and also the legendary Belgian racing circuit, Spa-Francorchamps. These can be purchased separately (15 cars for $7.99, Spa and a karting track for $4.99, a racing gear pack for your avatar for $2.99, and a color pack with 100 new paint colors for $1.99), or together for the discounted price of $11.99. Even if you don't feel like buying the DLC pack, your PS3 will have the data thanks to the 2.0 update. This means that you can race the new track online against other players even if you haven't purchased it as long as whoever's hosting the race has done so—a nice touch.

The track is a good recreation of the famous Ardennes track, and comes with dynamic weather, but thankfully none of the wasps that seemed to almost outnumber the crowds at this year's Belgian Grand Prix. However, after spending some time running laps, I was dismayed to notice that the game's framerate drops frequently, even with only a few other cars near me on track.

The 2.0 update also came alongside a lower price for the retail game, down to $39.99. For existing owners, the 2.0 update is free (and necessary if you want to play online). For PS3 owners who don't have a racing game, now may be the time to buy that copy of GT5 you've been holding out on.

45 Reader Comments

Been playing the 2.0 update for a while... nice new gameplay features, same annoying user interface. For some reason I prefer the driving mechanics in GT5 to Forza 4 (slightly), but the nuisance with trying to make sure I have compatible vehicles for an event drove me back to Forza 4.

The simple in-car view with just a speedo and tach is welcome. I like driving with as little as possible up on screen. Since you know, the part about driving games I like is the driving. Of course the great annoyance of GT5 remains that driving seems to be the one thing the game doesn't want you to do.

This is the only game I play on PS3. Having said that, I'm constantly amazed at the incompetence that PD has shown on all the little things. This was best exemplified in the another article at ars (About the game "Glitch") which said "if we incentivized the wrong things people would continue to abuse it, but will secretly hate us".

I constantly finding myself abusing the incentives, but hating Sony for making me do that. E.g. more cash for logging in every day, stupidly low cash limit, idiotic trading limit etc. There are probably a few dozen small fixes that can make this a great game. But, I don't think anyone at Sony really cares about the players.

I won't buy the DLC out of protest. Perhaps later, if there is something with better value for money, I might reconsider.

Game is great, not OK. It's the GT5 interface and all the other things you have to deal with before you get to sitting in a car on the racetrack that sucks

I'm confused, are those not part of the game?

Driving a car around a race track is the game. Fighting through all the interface quirks is not the game.

Not sure if troll...BTW do you still have to sit through the animation and load screens to change your oil? Any improved UI stuff that's noticable? I sold my copy a few months ago since I wasn't playing much - I may pick it up again.

I feel bad for the once great GT franchise and this update seem to be too little too late. Due to poor design choices, uneven textures, and the unacceptable ports of PS2 era models of cars it just seem like PD was in a sort of bubble dreaming of the time when there really was no direct competition. Sadly though there is competition now and it seems like the Forza franchise have surpassed them by making a better and more consistent product. They are going to have to seriously rethink the next GT game because GT5 feels like a celebration of obtuse menu systems whereas Forza feels like a celebration of cars.

So true. One of my most infuriating examples is winning new cars via "tickets" (presumably so you can give them away online? I have no idea).

Click on the ticket.Wait while the a new screen loads.Modal dialog. Yes, I want to add this car to my garage.Shitty ten-second animation that only lets you see about 10% of the car because IT'S DARK.Wait while you return to the home screen.

I have like 30 cars that I've won, but I can't be arsed to add them ONE AT A TIME, so I will never use them.

Game is great, not OK. It's the GT5 interface and all the other things you have to deal with before you get to sitting in a car on the racetrack that sucks

I'm confused, are those not part of the game?

Driving a car around a race track is the game. Fighting through all the interface quirks is not the game.

Not sure if troll...BTW do you still have to sit through the animation and load screens to change your oil? Any improved UI stuff that's noticable? I sold my copy a few months ago since I wasn't playing much - I may pick it up again.

Yes. It is substantially faster. There's a few other changes worth noting; G25/G27 support (though bugged until 2.01 release a couple weeks ago), spec sheets for multiple tunes on same car, more options for setting restrictions in lounges/open lobby, adjustable slipstream, better control for replay playback just to name a few.

I think Japanese developers needs to learn from the west: they need to release new version every 2 years to milk the franchise as much as possible, have DLC that can cost up to 4 times as much as the game, provide only iterative improvement (and fix old problems obviously).

Trying to develop something entirely new is too difficult, and 5 years or more of development time is just risky.

I think Japanese developers needs to learn from the west: they need to release new version every 2 years to milk the franchise as much as possible, have DLC that can cost up to 4 times as much as the game, provide only iterative improvement (and fix old problems obviously).

Trying to develop something entirely new is too difficult, and 5 years or more of development time is just risky.

That's a fair point about modern Western games in general, but I'm not sure that GT5 is a good example of "trying to developsomething entirely new." The "5" part of the name sort of undermines your point.

I personally found the 2.0 update made the game playable and enjoyable. I had it sitting on my shelf since I bought it at release.

I couldn't stand the load times, they're are much more reasonable now. The load time for the race still takes a bit, but it's not as bad as it was. The car/ticket system is still annoying. You should be able to toggle off the animation bit at least. I have noticed, maybe I missed it or maybe they added it that when entering races, you can zip over to your garage icon on the right of the screen to see if you have a car that matches, you can tune them, use the power limiter to lower the HP if needed, remove parts to meet PP restricted races... It's nice not flipping all the way back to the main screen to do that.

Hopefully we'll see further updates that really make GT5 the true gotta play it GT title most people expected.

I could never get over the interface deficiencies in GT5. I played all of the previous GT games for years and still have my GT3 and 4 discs kicking around. I bought GT5 and picked up a new racing wheel, however it feel like people in a vacuum created the game before every playing another racing game. GT5 feels like the Final Fantasy XIV of racing games. Plenty of great ideas and game play, but simply packed with issues that make you want to rip hair out. I pulled the game out again for the 2.0 update and traded it in a few days later. Even with the slightly quicker interface and various improvement, the whole thing just felt like a badly designed chore.

Also I really despised the hundreds of low res car models in the game. I would have much rather had 250 high detail models in the game instead of 200+ high detail models and 800 cars that look like trash.

I think Japanese developers needs to learn from the west: they need to release new version every 2 years to milk the franchise as much as possible, have DLC that can cost up to 4 times as much as the game, provide only iterative improvement (and fix old problems obviously).

Trying to develop something entirely new is too difficult, and 5 years or more of development time is just risky.

I can't think of any racer with DLC that can cost up to 4 times as much as the game.

Also, GT5 isn't entirely new either. Weather, day and night cycles, and rally are all new modes that I appreciate but when the majority of the cars are from Gran Turismo 4, and a few of the tracks look like they were taken from GT4 with minimal improvement, it's hard to call GT5 something new that took 5 years of development.

In any case, I am liking Spec II, mainly because it represent iterative improvement. Rather than waiting for GT6 to fix issues I've had with GT5, it's nice to get an update and DLC that will give me more to play with.

The big fix I want to see beyond the interface is a solid 60fps. Going from a solid 60fps in some other racers with nearly impressive (but clearly not as impressive as GT) graphics that run at 60fps with no tearing back to GT5 it's pretty jarring. Though I prefer the fact that GT5 doesn't have any permanent driving assists and thus is the better playing title for those with a wheel, it falls short in nearly every other category.

Really though unless the menu/setup is done horribly as it is in GT5 or arguing consol vs PC, it is rare when referring to a modern game a person means to thinking of the menu, options or settings screens.

This is the only game I play on PS3. Having said that, I'm constantly amazed at the incompetence that PD has shown on all the little things. This was best exemplified in the another article at ars (About the game "Glitch") which said "if we incentivized the wrong things people would continue to abuse it, but will secretly hate us".

I constantly finding myself abusing the incentives, but hating Sony for making me do that. E.g. more cash for logging in every day, stupidly low cash limit, idiotic trading limit etc. There are probably a few dozen small fixes that can make this a great game. But, I don't think anyone at Sony really cares about the players.

I won't buy the DLC out of protest. Perhaps later, if there is something with better value for money, I might reconsider.

True but the unimportant ones. A racing game with hundreds of unbelievable looking cars, physics, race tracks and a bad menu is still an awesome racing game. A racing game with an awesome menu and shitty tracks now that would be worth complaining about.

I feel bad for the once great GT franchise and this update seem to be too little too late. Due to poor design choices, uneven textures, and the unacceptable ports of PS2 era models of cars it just seem like PD was in a sort of bubble dreaming of the time when there really was no direct competition. Sadly though there is competition now and it seems like the Forza franchise have surpassed them by making a better and more consistent product. They are going to have to seriously rethink the next GT game because GT5 feels like a celebration of obtuse menu systems whereas Forza feels like a celebration of cars.

What makes it even more sad is the fact that Sony knew they were releasing a Game Console in 2006 - waaaay back in 2000.

They released GT4 in 2005.PS3 released 2006.

4-5 years later they can't develop a (once) high-end game for their own system and have it cranked up a notch above their previous release?

Honestly - I think after Sony announced that the Cell Processor technology was a dead end they seemed to have given up on the platform altogether.

Game is great, not OK. It's the GT5 interface and all the other things you have to deal with before you get to sitting in a car on the racetrack that sucks

I'm confused, are those not part of the game?

Driving a car around a race track is the game. Fighting through all the interface quirks is not the game.

For you, maybe, but I think you're mistaken. From the time I launch the game, to the time I turn the console off, is the game.

So you're saying that the xmb should be taken into the account of every game review (what if you get a message!?)? the quality of your bathroom when you get up to take a piss should also be reflected in video game reviews? Maybe you get a phone call from an ex, you're playing a game as your console is still on, and the reviews should reflect this. You're parameters are ridiculous.

I have to agree that fighting through an interface is not a game, however the interface still reflects on the presentation of the game. A terrible menu system may actually limit how much I play a game, but I would hardly consider pressing x on "Play now" part of the gameplay.

So you're saying that the xmb should be taken into the account of every game review (what if you get a message!?)? the quality of your bathroom when you get up to take a piss should also be reflected in video game reviews? Maybe you get a phone call from an ex, you're playing a game as your console is still on, and the reviews should reflect this. You're parameters are ridiculous.

Now you're just being ridiculous, his wording might leave room for your interpretation but it wasn't really that hard to understand what he meant.

Quote:

I have to agree that fighting through an interface is not a game, however the interface still reflects on the presentation of the game. A terrible menu system may actually limit how much I play a game, but I would hardly consider pressing x on "Play now" part of the gameplay.

Depending on what game we're talking about, the menu system is more or less complex. The menu system in Bulletstorm, for example, was really simple and there's no reason to bring it up in any reviews.

The menu system in GT5 and Forza 4 is a rather large part of the game since that's where you choose what race to run, what care to use and how to tune and upgrade your car and as such should be brought up in reviews, especially when there's so much talk about it being clumsy.

GT5 was the only game I played on my PS3, but this DLC is too little too late (Nascars... REALLY? and ANOTHER GTR!?).

Already traded my PS3 for an Xbox and am having much more fun with Forza. The painting and customization options alone made it worth it. Drive-train and engine swaps anyone?

A loaded question: I bought a PSX way back when specifically to play GT, followed by the horrendously buggy GT2 (remember the bugfix discs?). Haven't been back since.

As I look into getting back into consoles again, the question is--GT5 or Forza 4?

To me, I value the driving dynamics first and foremost. In those days, GT's physics made up for the brain dead opponent AI. With modern processing power, that's no longer acceptable.

I'd also like a variety of tracks and cars. The more real life tracks the better. But obscure JDM market versions, or other obscure variations of the same cars were just cheap ways to inflate the car count. Don't care about cosmetic modifications, only technical ones.

I'm also less inclined to support Polyphony, its self-indulgence, and ultimately disappointing in some fashion products.

I've tentatively settled on Forza, but am open to arguments against it. Coke or Pepsi, I know.

GT5 was the only game I played on my PS3, but this DLC is too little too late (Nascars... REALLY? and ANOTHER GTR!?).

Already traded my PS3 for an Xbox and am having much more fun with Forza. The painting and customization options alone made it worth it. Drive-train and engine swaps anyone?

A loaded question: I bought a PSX way back when specifically to play GT, followed by the horrendously buggy GT2 (remember the bugfix discs?). Haven't been back since.

As I look into getting back into consoles again, the question is--GT5 or Forza 4?

To me, I value the driving dynamics first and foremost. In those days, GT's physics made up for the brain dead opponent AI. With modern processing power, that's no longer acceptable.

I'd also like a variety of tracks and cars. The more real life tracks the better. But obscure JDM market versions, or other obscure variations of the same cars were just cheap ways to inflate the car count. Don't care about cosmetic modifications, only technical ones.

I'm also less inclined to support Polyphony, its self-indulgence, and ultimately disappointing in some fashion products.

I've tentatively settled on Forza, but am open to arguments against it. Coke or Pepsi, I know.

If you're platform agnostic and just want the best driving game, then it's Forza all the way.

@citpeks - I play and enjoy both. If you are more of an offline player and want the better "game" get Forza 4 (and pretend the Forza version of the Nordschleife doesn't exist). If you are more of an online player and want the better "sim" (in terms purely of driving dynamics/connection) get GT5.

Control method will also have an influence on your choice, getting quality wheel support is easier and cheaper on GT5 (unless money is no object or you are happy with an "adequate" MS wheel) but if you are a pad user, Forza is superior.

I tend to play Forza offline but usually end up a session by loading up GT5 for some online shuffle racing.